Govt arraigns suspected abductors of Ozekhome, others

The Federal Government yesterday arraigned three men for allegedly kidnapping some public figures and killing some security officers.

Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor and Michael Omonigho were accused of kidnappings and terrorism in Edo and Delta states between 2010 and 2013. Among their victims are Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha, who were kidnapped last year.

The accused were said to have also kidnapped Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killed five policemen and two prison officials.

The 13-count charge on which the three were arraigned said they allegedly made about N75 million from Ozekhome, Eghagha, Ugbome and Omorogbe before their victims were released.

They were also alleged to have compelled Ozekhome to pay N40 million (in US dollars), Eghagha paid N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million, while Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.

The prosecution gave the names of the policemen allegedly killed during the kidnap of Ozekhome and Eghagha as: Paul Sunday Ajaka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector); Michael Akpada (Inspector); Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odoh (Sergeant).